La Quinta to open in old Ramada building

A La Quinta hotel is planned for the old Ramada building at the corner of Hwy. 45 and Hwy. 82 in Columbus.

Columbus-Lowndes Convention and Visitors Bureau CEO Nancy Carpenter said Friday the building is in the early stages of work. Two additional sources with knowledge of the project but who were not authorized to comment on the record further confirmed La Quinta is the incoming hotel.

The Ramada closed in late December after being purchased by a then-unannounced buyer. According to public records, the building is currently owned by a company controlled by John Tampa, president of Ascent Hospitality, a Georgia-based hotel management company. Ascent Hospitality did not respond to calls and an email request for comment.

With La Quinta coming and a Holiday Inn Express on Sixth Street North expected to open in June, Carpenter said she's optimistic about hotels' strength in the area. The Holiday Inn is expected to add about 80 rooms in Columbus.